Free-wheel velocipede.



No. 683,27I. Patented Sept. 24, mm.

A. GIBBS. FREE WHEEL VELOCIPEDE.

(Applicntion filed Feb. 4, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 633,271. Patented Sept. 24, I90]. A. GIBBS. FREE WHEEL VELOGIPEDE' (Application filed Feb. 4, 1901.)

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(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFLCE.

ANTONY GIBBS, OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND.

FREE-WHEEL VELOCIPEDE.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,271, dated. September 24, 1901. Application filed February 4, 1901. Serial No. 46,002. (No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTONY GIBBS, a sub ject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Tyntesfield, Bristol, in the county of Somerset, England, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Free-Wheel Velocipedes, (for which I have made application for Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 20,848, dated November 19, 1900, and in Germany on the 16th day of November, 1900,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to add to the advantage and satisfaction the rider of a velocipede derives from the use of a free wheel the security which a rigid wheel afiords in going down a steep hill or when it is desired to bring the machine quickly to a stop.-

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is an elevation of the hub of my improved wheel with the clutch mechanism in section. Figs. 2 and 3 show the disk or ring with the recesses for the rollers or balls, the latter being shown in the normal or freewheel position in Fig. 2 and in the position for permitting back-pedalin g in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the means for operating the clutch mechanism; Fig. 5, a plan view thereof; and Figs. 6 and 7 end views thereof, taken from opposite sides of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that according to this invention within the chainwheel 70 of the machine is a disk or ring e, which by means of a right-handed thread is firmly screwed to the hub a. This ring e is furnished with recesses commonly used to receive the rollers of roller or ball couplings. The recesses alternately taper off in 0ppo site directions. When all the rollers occupy the positions into which they are forced by the springs acting on them, the ring 2 is firmly locked with the chain-wheel k in both directions. In order to get a free wheel in the direction which is shown by arrows in Figs. 2 and 3, one of the sets of rollers f must be forced from the narrow to the wider part of their recesses. This is done by means of the pins Z, which reach in between the open spaces of the recesses in front of the rollers f. These pins Zare joined front and back to two disks t' and h, as shown in Fig. 1, which disks fit in recesses cut out for them in the ring e and in which they turn freely within the limits'of their motion as determined by the extent of the movement of the pins Z in front of their rollers f. The hub a has a leftthreaded lock-nut m, which is formed with a tail-like extension m, which acts as a controlling-spring. The .free end of this controlling-spring is attached tothe disk 2' by means of a link 12 and screw and stud 0, as shown clearly in Fig.4c, so that the tension of such spring is capable of adjustment. In tightening up this spring m by means of the screw bearing against stud 0 the disk '11 is subjected to a displacement relative to the hub or toward the right till the pinsl abut against the ends of their respective recesses in the ring 6. Any desired amount of additional tightening up may be given to the spring m.

The disk 11 is grooved outside its circumference in order to receive a spring brake-band p, which ordinarily is free of the groove. In order to keep this band 19 entirely free from the disk t', a piece q, preferably of triangular form, is provided and is attached to the fork of the frame of the machine. The spring brake -band 19 carries at its middle part a spring 25. The triangular piece q is held in position by projections 'r r to prevent any turning movement. Pins 3 3 hold the spring brake band 19 in position, so that it can neither turn nor move sidewise, but it is capable of being moved in the direction of its length, which movement is rendered possible by two notches, within which the pins 8 s are placed. Ordinarily the springt by abutting with its free end against the triangular piece q keeps the spring brake-band p away from disk (2:. The free ends (to and o) of the brake-band 19 are coupled up by a pivoted lever w (to one end of which the brake-rod is connected) and a screw 00 and link 00. When now the brake-rod is pulled, the brake-band p closes in the ordinary manner and at the same time the spring 6 it carries permits its middle part to move toward the disk t', so that such band 13 is wholly in contact with said disk 1'. In this manner brake-power is applied to the wheel while it is yet a free wheel in the sense that the chain and chainwheels are at rest; but if for any reason the rider desires the Wheel to be rigid he has only to give an additional pull to his brakelever till thefriction on diski overcomes the power of the controlling-sprin g m, above-1'e ferred to. Directly this takes place the disk 4; undergoes a displacement relative to the hub a, the rollers f are forced by their springs into the narrow part of their respective rec-r cesses in the ring e, as shown in Fig. 3, and a rigid or fast wheel is obtained.

It has already been mentioned that the controlling-spring m can be set up to any desired tension, and it only depends upon the extent vto which this is done to determine the limits within which the free wheel as such can be braked before it becomes rigid or-fast.

In the drawings only four rollers have been shown in each set; but it is evident that any convenient number may be employed.

What I claim as-my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-.-

1. The combination of an. axle, a wheel thereon, a pedaling mechanism, a double-act-:

ing-clutch for connecting said pedaling mechanism with saidwheel, aspring for holding said clutch open, and means for overcoming thetension of said spring to lock theclutch in back=pedaling.

2. The combination of an axle; a Wheel" thereon, a pedaling mechanism, a double-acting clutch for connecting said pedaling mechanism with said wheel, 'a spring for holding said clutch open, means for overcoming the tension of said spring to lock the clutch in back-pedaling, and means for regulating the tension of said spring.

3. Thevcombination of an axle, a wheelthereon, a pedaling mechanism, a double-act: ing clutch for connecting said pedaling mech'-. anismwith said wheel, a spring for holding said clutch open, and a brake for overcoming theatension of said spring to lock the clutch members for back-pedaling.

4. :In a Velocipede', the combination of'an axle, a wheel thereon, a pedaling mechanism, a double-acting clutch for connecting said. pedaling mechanism with said wheel, and a brakeadapted to perform the double function of braking the wheel andof uniting the clu'ch members for back-pedalin g.

5."Th'e-combination of two rotary parts, one,

of whichis provided with two sets of recesses taperingin opposite directions, balls disposed in said recesses, springs normally forcing said balls in contact with the other rotary part for locking said parts together, a brake-disk provided with pins extending into said recesses, a torsional spring connected Wit-hone of said parts and with said brake-disk, a brake-band for operating against said brake-disk, and a brake-lever connected with said brake-band.

6. The combination of an axle, a wheel. thereon, a pedaling mechanism, adouble-acting clutch for connecting said pedaling mech-' anism with said wheel, a spring for regulatforcing said balls in contact with the sprocket Wheel for looking it 'tosaidring, a disk-pro for forcing the balls of one' setof 1 recesses back against the tension of their springs,

means disposed on said wheel and connected with the pin-disk for holding the ring and sprocket-wheel for'back-pedaling,

'vided with pins extending intosaid recesses V sprocket-wheelapart, and a brake connected with saidineans for connecting the-ring and.

j 8. The combinationofa wheel, a pedaling mechanism connected therewith, a ring connected to said wheel, a disk having pins adapted to act on said ring to freeit from said pedaling mechanism, an adjustable spring connecting said disk to the wheel, and a brake adapted to act on said disk to overcome said spring and connect the ring-to'the pedaling mechanism for back-pedaling.

9. The combination ofa wheel, a ringconnected therewith having tapered recesses therein,spring actuated balls disposed in said recesses, a diskprovided withpins adapted to force the balls against their springsto obtain a free wheel, a spring-connected-to said wheel and to said disk, and a brake-bandv adapted to engage-said diskand perform the double function of a brake and a releasing device for the pins whereby a rigidwheelis obtained for back-pedaling.

Y 10. Thecombination ofawheeharingconnected therewith. having. tapered recesses therein,spring-actuated balls disposedin said recesses, a diskprovided with'pinsadapted to force said balls against their springs. toob taina free wheel on backspedaling, a spring 7 connected to said wheel and 1 to said disk, a

brake-band adapted to perform the double function of a brake, and a releasingodevice for the pins whereby a rigid wheel is obtained.

for back-pedaling, and means foradjusting the tension of said spring touregulate the point at which the brake-power shall exceed thatof the spring.

1 ANTONY GIBBS. ,1

Witnesses: ERNEST J OHN BALL,

GILBERT HENRY PHILLPOTT. 

